Process of severing rod-like articles and arranging the severed articles in a row



March 28, 1967 B. SCHUBERT PROCESS OF SEVERING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES ANDARRANGING THE SEVERED ARTICLES IN A ROW 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14,1963 'wha 4 30 vemar:

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J17 1 20 for 8 E RN 1914/90 JCbl/BERT March 28, 1967 B. SCHUBERT3,311,008

PROCESS OF SEVERING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES AND ARRANGING THE SEVERED ARTICLESIN A ROW Filed Nov. 14, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jn'v en for BERN/MRO O'CHUBERI March 28, 1967 B. SCHUBERT PROCESS OF SEVERING ROD-LIKE ARTICLESAND ARRANGING THE SEVERED ARTICLES IN A ROW Filed Nov. 14, 1963 7Sheets-Sheet 5 March 28, 1967 B. SCHUBERT PROCESS OF SEVERING ROD-LIKEARTICLES AND ARRANGING THE SEVERED ARTICLES IN A ROW 7 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed Nov. 14, 1963 .70 en/0r.-

BER/VHAPD JC'f/UBEPT Kay- March 28, 1967 B. SCHUBERT PROCESS OF SEVERINGROD-LIKE ARTICLES AND ARRANGING THE SEVERED ARTICLES IN A ROW Filed Nov.14, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 I NVENTOR; BERN/ 9RD Jam/6E United Stateslatent Cfiice 3311,0 68 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 3,311,008 PRGCESS OFSEVERING KGB-LIKE ARTKCLES AND ARRANGING THE SEVERED ARTICLES IN A ROWBernhard Schubert, Hamburg-Lohbrugge, Germany, as-

signor to Hauni Werke Kiirher & (10., KG, Hamburg, Germany Filed Nov.14, 1963, Ser. No. 323,694 laims priority, application; Germany, Nov.17, 1962,

4 ,424 11 Claims. (Cl. 83-27) The present invention relates to a processand apparatus for manipulating filter rods, cigarette rods and similarrod shaped articles. More particularly, the invention relates to aprocess and apparatus for conveying and staggering in a novel wayrod-like articles which are obtained by severing rods of multiple unitlength into two or more axially aligned sections and which are thereuponarranged in a single row wherein the articles form a single file.

In modern filter cigarette machines, mouthpiece sections of double unitlength are inserted between pairs of axially aligned cigarette rods, andsuch assemblies of cigarette rods and mouthpiece sections are thereuponprovided with wrappers of adhesive-coated tape which surround themouthpiece section and the adjacent portions of both cigarette rods sothat each assembly forms a filter cigarette of double unit length. Theassemblies are then severed across the wrapper to obtain two filtercigarettes of ultimate length. Mouthpiece sections of double unit lengthare obtained by severing filter rods of multiple unit length and bythereupon shufiling the thus obtained axially aligned sections in orderto form a single file which may be fed to a so-called assembly drum ofthe filter cigarette machine on which the mouthpiece sections areassembled with pairs of cigarette rods.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a processfor shufiling sections of filter rods or other types of rod-likearticles in such a way that the rods may be severed and the resultingsections shufi'led and arranged in a single file while travelling at aspeed which is sufiicient to insure that the process may be resorted toin the manufacture of filter cigarettes on modern high-speed filtercigarette machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel process fortransferring rod-like sections from rows wherein the sections areaxially aligned with each other into consecutive pockets of a receivingconveyor which may be used to deliver such sections to the assembly drumof a filter cigarette machine.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatuswhich may be utilized for carrying out the process of my invention andwhich is sufiieiently compact to fit into presently used filtercigarette machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel magazine and anovel transfer conveyor which may be utilized in an apparatus of thejust outlined characteristics.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide an apparatuswherein severing of rods of multiple unit length into two or moresections and subsequent transfer of such sections into the pockets of areceiving drum may take place in a fully automatic way and without anysupervision on the part of the operator.

With the above objects in view, one feature of my invention resides inthe provision of a process for staggering an array of rod-like sectionswherein the sections are initially arranged in a plurality of rows ofequidistant sections so that each section of one row is axially alignedwith one section of each other row. The process comprises the steps ofmoving an array of equidistant parallel rods in a direction at rightangles to their axes and simultaneously severing each rod into aplurality of sections whereby the array of rods is transformed into anarray of sections wherein each section of one row is axially alignedwith one section of each other row, moving the array of sections in afirst path at right angles to their axes, consecutively transferring theforemost axially aligned sections of each row seriatim into a pluralityof separate paths at such intervals that all foremost axially alignedsections are transferred before a rod moves through a distance which isequal to the distance between two consecutive rods whereby the sectionsare transversely staggered with reference to each other, moving the thusstaggered sections at right angles to their axes at higher speed andthrough different distances so that the sections remain in transverselystaggered relation, and thereupon shifting the sections axially withreference to each other to form a single row in which all sections arearranged in a single file.

For example, if the rods are filter rods of multiple unit length, theymay be severed into sections of double unit length and, once suchsections form a single file, they may be introduced between consecutivepairs of cigarette rods to form filter cigarettes of double unit length.After a wrapper of adhesive coated material is applied around thesections and around the adjacent end portions of the respectivecigarette rods, the resulting product is severed in half across thefilter sections to form two filter cigarettes of ultimate length.

In its simplest form, the apparatus of my invention comprises a feedconveyor whose pockets or similar holding means receive filter rods froma magazine and which 7 moves such rods at right angles to their axes andpast one or more cutting devices which automatically sever each rod intotwo or more axially aligned sections of requisite length, a receivingconveyor which is spaced from the feed conveyor and which is providedwith equidistant pockets or similar holding means each arranged toreceive a single section, and a special transfer conveyor which isdisposed between the two previously mentioned conveyors and whichincludes a plurality of transfer elements each serving to transfer onesection of any given rod from the feed conveyor to the receivingconveyor. The elements of the transfer conveyor have portions ofdifferent length which extend from a first transfer station at which thetransfer conveyor receives seriatim the foremost axially alignedsections from the feed conveyor and a second transfer station at whichthe transfer conveyor delivers transversely staggered sections to thereceiving conveyor. The apparatus further comprises drive means arrangedto move the transfer conveyor and the receiving conveyor at identicalspeeds but in different directions and to move the feed conveyor atlower speed so that the pockets or similar holding means provided on theelements of the transfer conveyor receive sections of a given rodseriatim while moving along the first transfer station and at such shortintervals that all sections of a given rod are transferred before a rodor a group of axially aligned sections covers with the feed conveyor adistance which equals the distance between two consecutive rods.

The sections of a given rod are caused to move with respect to eachother and become staggered at the time they are being transferredseriatim at the first transfer station, and to a small extent while theytravel between the two transfer stations. While moving with a givenconveyor, the sections travel at identical speeds and each conveyormoves the sections at right anglesto their axes.

My process and apparatus differentiate from certain known proposals inthat the transfer of any given group of axially aligned sections fromthe pockets of the feed conveyor into the pockets of the transferelements does not take place simultaneously but at timely spacedintervals so that the first section of a given rod is transferred ontothe respective element of the transfer conveyor while the remainingsection or sections of the same rod will the second section of the samerod, and so on until all of the sections are on the transfer conveyor.Such transfer of two or more axially aligned sections is completedwithin a period of time which is needed by a rod to cover on the .feedconveyor the distance between two consecutive rods. In conventionalapparatus, the transfer conveyor comprises a series of coaxial diskswhich are driven at different speeds, or a series of eccentric diskswhose pockets are aligned at two spaced transfer stations. The drivemechanism for such disks is quite complicated and, furthermore, smallestinaccuracies in mounting of the disks'will result in destruction ormutilation of sections and in many other inconveniences.

In accordance with the present invention, all elements of the transferconveyor may be driven at the same speed and their pockets need not bealigned at either of the two transfer stations. If thetransfer elementsassume the form of disks, all that is necessary is to use disks ofdifferent diameters and to mount them in such a way that the disks aresubstantially tangential to the receiving conveyor at the secondtransfer station and that portions of the disks overlap the feedconveyor at the first transfer station. As a rule, the feed conveyorwill be a drum with equidistant axially parallel peripheral pockets, andthe receiving conveyor also resembles a drum with equidistant axiallyparallel peripheral pockets. The feed drum may be assembled of aplurality of pairwise arranged coaxial wheels defining betweenthemselves spaces into which portions of the transfer disks extend sothat the pitch circles of pockets on the transfer disks intersect thepitch circle of pockets on the feed conveyor at such points at which thedisks remove foremost axially aligned sections from the pockets of thefeed conveyor.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are, set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved apparatus itself, however both as to its construction and themethod of operating the same, together with additional features andadvantages thereof, will .be best understood from the following detaileddescription of a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is'a perspective view of the three conveyors, of tWo rotarycutters, and of a magazine for filter rods, with certain parts brokenaway;

FIG. 2 isa similar perspective view wherein the parts shown in FIG. 1are indicated by phantom lines and wherein the manner in which thefilter rods and the sections .of severed filter rods move through theapparatus is shown by full lines;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the feed conveyor and an axial section throughthe disks of the transfer conveyor;

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary front elevational view of the transfer stationbetween the feed conveyor and one disk of the transfer conveyor;

FIG. 4b is a similar front elevational view of the transfer stationbetween the feed conveyor and another disk of the transfer conveyor;

FIG. 40 is a similar front elevational view of the transfer stationbetween the feed conveyor and a third disk of the transfer conveyor;

FIG. Sis an enlarged front elevational view of the transfer conveyor ina position its disks assume just prior to transfer ofa section from thefeed conveyor into the pocket of a disk;

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of thefeed conveyor and transfer conveyor at the first transfer station,showing a section in a position it assumes when it is simultaneouslyreceived in the pockets of both conveyors;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the manner in which axiallyaligned sections obtained by severing a multiple-length filter rod aretransferred seriatim into the pockets of the transfer conveyor;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the drive machanism serving to rotate aseries of agitating rollers which regulate the discharge of filter rodsfrom the magazine, certain portions of the mechanism being broken away;and

FIG. 9 is a schematic front elevational view of the drive mechanism forthe conveyors and the cutters.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an apparatus which isutilized for transforming an array consisting of rows of equidistantaxially aligned filter rod sections of double unit length into a singlerow of transversely staggered sections. This row of transverselystaggered sections is thereupon condensed to form a single file ofsections which may be delivered to an assembly drum where each sectionenters the space between a pair of axially aligned cigarette rods toform with the cigarette rods a filter cigarette or double unit length.

The apparatus comprises a magazine 6 which feeds filter rods R ofsextuple unit length to a feed conveyor 2, and this feed conveyorcooperates with a pair of angularly and axially spaced rotary cutters29, 30 which sever the rods R into sections F F P of double unit length.The conveyor 2 thereupon moves such sections in a circular path to afirst transfer station A at which the foremost axially aligned sectionsF F F are received seriatim by a transfer conveyor l in such a way thatthe axially aligned sections of each consecutive rod are staggeredtransversely and thereupon move in separate paths and throughdilferentdistances to a second transfer station B at which they aredeposited in peripheral holding means or pockets 3a provided on areceiving conveyor 3 which serves to move the sections in a'furthercircular path at identical speeds so that the transverse spacing be- Itween the sections remains unchanged. The conveyor 3 allows the sectionsto be moved axially with respect to each other so that the sections forma single file which is ready to be delivered to an assembly drum, notshown.

The transfer conveyor ll comprises three transfer elements here shown asdisks in, 1b, 10 which are respectively provided with equidistantperipheral holding means in the form of pockets 4a, 4b, 4c. The angulardistance between the centers of pockets 4a, 4b or 40 is 3T wherein T isthe angular distance between the centers of pockets 341 on the receivingconveyor 3. The reference numerals 5a, 5b, 5c indicate arcuate guidefaces provided on the peripheries of the disks in, 1b, 1c and leadinginwardly to the respective pockets 4a, 4b, 4c.

The feed conveyor 2 comprises six coaxial gear-shaped wheels 2a, 2b, 2c,2d, 2e, 2 which are disposed in pairs including a first pair 2a, 2b, asecond pair 20, 2d and a third pair 22, 2 The distance between thewheels 2a, 2b is such that a portion of the disk In extends into thespace therebetween. A larger portion of the disk 1b extends into thespace between the wheels 20, 2d, and a still larger portion of the disk1c extends into the space between the wheels 2e, 2 The cutter 29 extendsinto the gap between the wheels 2d, 2e and the cutter 30 extends intothe gap between the wheels 2b, 2c so that a filter rod R of sextupleunit length which is received in aligned holding means or pockets of thewheels 2a2e is automatically severed into three sections F F P of doubleunit length as the rod advances past the cutters 29, 30. The alignedpockets of the first pair of wheels 2a, 2b are identified by numerals35a and these pockets accommodate the left-hand sections P of the rods Rwhich are severed by the cutter 3h. The aligned pockets 35b of thesecond pair of wheels 2c, 2d receive the median sections F which aresevered by the cutter 29, and the aligned pockets 350 of the wheels 22,2 receive the righthand sections F which are severed by the cutter 29.The distance between the centers of two adjacent pockets 35a, 35b or 350exceeds only slightly the diameter of a filter rod R so that a feedconveyor of comparatively small diameter may carry a large number ofrods.

The magazine 6 comprises a pair of converging outer side walls 6a, 6b, arear wall ac and an internal structure including two roof-shaped topwalls 7a, 7b, two vertical inner side walls 8a, 8b and an arcuatehousing 9 having side walls 9a, 9b. The side walls 6a, 8a and 6b, 8bform two chutes having open lower ends which discharge two streams offilter rods R by gravity toward the periphery of the feed conveyor 2.Two horizontal agitating rollers 12, 13 extend into the respectivechutes and serve to prevent bridging of filter rods which descend bygravity toward the feed conveyor 2. The rollers 12, 13 rotate back andforth and are driven by a mechanism which is shown in FIG. 8. Twoagitating rollers 10, a are disposed at a level below the roller 12 atthe open lower end of the left-hand chute, and each thereof comprises aseries of coaxial rolls with the rolls of the roller 10 extending intocutouts provided in the outer side wall 6a. The rolls of the roller 10aare located below the lower ends of the walls 8a, 9a, and these wallshave downwardly extending projections (only the projections 9a are shownin FIG. 1) which extend into the spaces between the rolls of the roller10a. The rollers 10, 16a are rotated back and forth by the mechanismwhich is shown in FIG. 8 and serve to deliver rods R individually intothe pockets 35a-35c or into a rod-receiving compartment 90 defined bythe housing 9.

A second pair of agitating rollers 11, 11b is disposed below the roller13 and the rolls of the roller 11 are recessed in cutouts provided inthe outer side wall 612. The roller 11b is located below the walls 812,9b and these walls have projections (only the project-ions 8b are shownin FIG. 1) which extend into the spaces between the axially alignedrolls of the roller 11b. The rollers 11, 11b rotate back and forth andperform the same function as the rollers 10, 10a.

The mechanism which drives the rollers 10, 10a, 11, 11b, 12 and 13 isillustrated in FIG. 8. It comprises a driver gear 14 whose shaft 14a isrotated by the main drive shaft 40 of'the apparatus (to be described inconnection with FIG. 9) and which meshes with a pinion 15 mounted on ashaft 15b and carrying an eccentric pin 15a. The pin 15a is connectedwith a push rod 16 which carries a pin 17 eccentrically secured to agear 18 which in turn meshes with pinions 19, 20 and 21 respectivelymounted on the shafts of the rollers 12, 10a and 10. The gear 18 carriesa second eccentric pin 22 which is connected with one end of a secondpush rod 23, and the other end of this second push rod carries a pin 25which is eccentrically secured to gear 24. The gear 24 meshes withpinions 26, 27, 28 which are respectively mounted on the shafts of therollers 13, 11, 11b. The shaft 14a of the driver gear 14 rotates in aclockwisedirection so that the pinion 15 will be driven in acounterclockwise direction and the wheels 18, 24 will rotate back andforth to transmit similar rotary movements to the rollers whereby therollers agitate the supply of filter rods in the magazine 6 and advancetwo single streams of such rods into the pockets into the compartment9c.

Referring to FIG. 3, the disk 1a is provided with an elongated radiallyextending slot 31 which receives a portion of a coupling bolt 32, andthis bolt has a threaded portion which is screwed into the disk 1b. Asimilar radially extending slot 33 in the disk 1b receives a portion ofa second coupling bolt 34 which is screwed into the disk 10. Suchconnection between the disks 1a-1c is necessary in order to insure thatthe disks may move with respect to each other at the time they rotateabout a common shaft 48 in such a way that their axes are parallel buteccentric with reference to each other. The slots 31, 33 are provided atsuch distance from the axis of the feed drum 2 that the coupling bolts32, 34 remain spaced from the teeth of the wheels 2a-2f. The shaft 48 isstationary and is provided with eccentric collars 48a, 48b, 480 whichare coaxial with and support the disks 1a, 1b, 10.

FIG. 3 also shows that the extent to which a portion of the disk 10projects into the space between the wheels 35a-35c of the feed drum 2 aswell as 2e, 2] is greater than the extent to which a portion of the disk1b extends into the space between the wheels 20, 2d, and a portion ofthe disk 1a extends even less into the space between the wheels 2a, 2b.

FIGS. 4a to 40 show that the bottom portion of each pocket 4a, 4b, 4c isbounded by an arcuate surface which extends along an angle of aboutdegrees, i.e., such tarcuate surfaces are provided between radialsurfaces (which extend outwardly toward the tips of the teeth on thedisks la-lc) and the aforementioned guide faces 5a, 5b, 5c. Theconveyors 1 and 2 are driven in the same direction, namely,counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2, 441-40, 6 and 9.

Referring to FIG. 5, the lines K K and K respectively indicate theaddendum circles or crown circles of the disks 1a, 1b, 1c, and it willbe noted that these circles intersect the crown circle K of the conveyor2 as well as the pitch circle of the pockets 3a. The pitch circles ofthe pockets 4a-4c also intersect the pitch circles of the pockets35a-35c but are tangential to the pitch circle of the pockets 3a. Thepitch circles pass through the axes of the sections F F F in the pocketsof the respective conveyors. Thus, the diameter of the pitch circle ofthe pockets 3a corresponds to the maximum diameter of the receivingconveyor 3 because the pockets 3a are of semicircular outline so thatone-half of each filter rod section will extend into the respectivepocket on. the conveyor 3. The crown circle of the .conveyor 2 is thecircle touching the tips of teeth between the pockets 35a-3-5c-.

The angular position of the disks 1a-1c with reference to each other issuch that the pockets 4c are staggered with respect to the pockets 4band that the pockets 4b are staggered with respect to the pockets 4athrough a distance T. Thus, and as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, asection F which forms part of the foremost filter rod R is transferredprior to the section P of the same rod, and the section F is transferredprior to the section F of the same rod.

In accordance with the present invention, all three sections F F P ofthe foremost filter rod R are transferred within a distance which doesnot exceed the angular distance t between the centers of two adjacentpockets 35a, 3512 or 350. This distance r is shown in FIG. 6 whichillustrates (in broken lines) a first pocket 350 in the wheel 2 a secondpocket 350 which still accommodates a section F but which is in exactregistry with a pocket 40 of the disk 1c, and a third pocket 35c whichaccommodates a section F The center C of the section F shown in FIG. 6begins to travel along the line indicated by an arrow 1e which is aportion of the pitch circle of the pockets 4c. The line Dpasses throughthe center of the rightmost pocket 350 in FIG. 6, and it will be notedthat the distance t is the distance between the centers of twoadjacentpockets 35c. Before the central pocket 350 of FIG. 6 reaches theposition occupied by the rightmost pocket 350, the. disks la-lc havemoved three foremost axially aligned sections F F F from axially alignedpockets 35a, 35b, 35c of the feed conveyor 2. This is shown in FIG. 7which indicates that the filter rod sections F F continue to travel withthe conveyor 2 through a distance t/ 3 after the disk 10 has removed thecorresponding section F and before the disk 1b removes the section F andthat the section F then continues to move with the conveyor 2 through adistance t/3 after the disk 1b has removed the section P of the samefilter rod. In other words, the sequence in which the sections of theforemost filter rod R are transferred seriatim at the station A is asfollows: The section F is transferred in the first step whereby thesections F F remain in the respective pockets 35a, 35b to cover adistance t/ 3 whereupon the section F is removed but the section Fcontinues to move through another distance t/ 3 so that removal of allthree axially aligned sections takes place within a distance tcorresponding to the'distance between the centers of two adjacentpockets rate at which such groups of axially aligned sections advancetoward the transfer station A so that all pockets 350-350 advancingbeyond. the transfer station A are empty and may receive unseveredfilter rods R which descend between the rollers 11, 11b, from thecompart- -ment 90, or between the rollers 19, a.

The improved process for transferring groups of axially aligned sectionsF F F may be described in another way by stating that the points atwhich the crown circles K K K1 intersect the crown circle K; of theconveyor 2 are angularly spaced by distances r/3 wherein the distance tcorresponds to the distance between a pair of adjacent pockets 35a, 35bor 35c, i.e., to the distance between two consecutive filter rods orbetween two consecutive groups of axially aligned sections on theconveyor 2.

The manner in which the disks 1a-1c receive the sections F F F is bestshown in FIGS. 4a to 40. FIG. 4a illustrates one pocket 40 of the disk1c in a position in which this pocket registers with the foremost filledpocket 350 of the wheel 2). FIG. 4b illustrates one of the pockets 4b inexact registry with the foremost filled pocket 35]) of the wheel 2d, andFIG. 4c illustrates one of the pockets 4a in exact registry with theforemost filled pocket 35a of the wheel 2b. The wheels 2a, 20 and 2e areomitted in FIGS. 4a-4c for the sake of clarity, because, if they wereshown, the wheels 2a, 2c and 2e would respectively overlap portions ofthe disks 1a, 1b and 1c. The transfer of axially aligned sections F F F(in this order) takes place in rapid sequence which means that the disks1a1c must rotate much faster than the wheels 2a-2f. This will bedescribed in connection with FIG. 9. The peripheral speeds of theconveyors 1, 3 are the same and these conveyors rotate in oppositedirections, seethe arrows in FIGS. 1, 5 and 9.

The diameter of the crown circle K is greater than the diameter' of thecrown circle K but less than the diameterwof the crown circle K Thus,the distance covered by .a' section F between the transfer stations A,

- B is less than the distance covered by a section F but more than thedistance covered by a section F During their travel in circular pathsdefined by the conveyors 2',v 1 and 3, the rods R and the sections F F Falways move at right angles to their axes and, at the time they areaccommodated in the pockets 3a, the transverse spacing betweenconsecutive sections F F F F F F is sufiicient to allow for axialshifting of such transversely staggered sections so that the sectionsform a single file.

The means for shifting the sections axially comprises a pair of inclinedcams 3b (only one shown in FIG. 5) which move the sections F F inwardlyuntil the sections F F form a single file with the sections F It goeswithout saying that certain portions of the conveyors 1-3 are surroundedby suitable shields (omitted for the sake of clairity) which serve toretain the rods R and the sections F F in the respective pockets. It isalso possible toreplace such shields by suction ducts provided intheconveyors and serving to hold the rods or the filter sections by suctionwhich is effective along certain portions of the paths for the rods Rand sections F F Referring to FIG. 9, there are shown the drivemechanisms for the conveyors 1-3 and cutters 29, 30. A main drive shaft40 carries two driver gears 42, 43 which rotate in a clockwise direction(arrow 41). The gear 42 meshes with a gear 44 which in turn drives theshaft the shaft 48 of the transfer conveyor 1. The shaft 48 8 isstationary and the gear 47 drives the disk 10 through a clutch 47a shownin FIG. 1. The disk 10 drives the disk 1b through the coupling bolt 34and the disk 1b drives the disk 1:: through the coupling bolt 32.

The gear 47 also meshes with a gear 49 mounted on an intermediate shaft50 which carries a gear 51 meshing with a gear 52 which in turn mesheswith a gear 53 on a shaft 54. The shaft 54 carries a gear 55 whichmeshes with a gear 56 on the shaft 57 of the receiving conveyor 3. Ifdesired, the gear train 49, 51, 52, 53, 55 may be replaced by a gear 58(shown in phantom lines) mounted on the shaft 48 and meshing with thegear 56 on the shaft 57 of the conveyor 3.

In the illustrated embodiment, the Wheels 211-21 of the feed conveyor 2are provided with 48 pockets 35a, 35b, 350. The conveyor 3 has 16pockets 3a, and each of the disks 111-10 has six pockets. Thetransmission ratio between the conveyors 1 and 2 is 8:1.

The main drive shaft 40 rotates the driver shaft 14a of FIG. 8 through achain or belt drive, not shown. All shafts are mounted in a suitableframe a portion of which constitutes the rear wall 60 of the magazine 6.The shaft 40 is driven by a suitable electric motor through a vari-'able-speed transmission, not shown.

The cutters 29, 30 are driven by a main shaft 60 which carries a pulley61 for a belt 62. The belt 62 is trained around a pulley 63 which drivesthe cutter 29. The pulley 63 is coaxially secured to a pulley 64 whichdrives a belt 65 trained around a pulley 66. This pulley 66 rotates thecutter 30. The shaft 60 may be driven by a separate electric motor, notshown.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal thegist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalance of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a process for staggering an array of rod-like sections wherein thesections are disposed in a plurality of rows of equidistant sections andwherein each section of one row is axially aligned with one section ofeach other row, the steps of moving said array of sections in a firstpath, at a first speed and at right angles to the axis of the sections;consecutively transfering the foremost axially aligned sections of allof said rows seriatim into separate paths at a higher second speed, withreference to each other and at such intervals that all axially alignedsections are transferred before a section in any one of said rows coversin said first path a distance equal to the distance between twoconsecutive sections whereby all of the sections are transverselystaggered with reference to each other, each of said separate pathshaving a portion which overlaps a portion of said first path in theregion where the sections are transferred from said first path, andshifting the sections axially with reference to each other so as to forma single row of sections in which all sections are arranged in a singlefile.

2. In a process for staggering an array of rod-like sections wherein thesections are disposed in a plurality of rows of equidistant sections andwherein each section of one row is axially aligned with one section ofeach other row, the steps of moving said array of sections in a firstpath at right angles to the axes of the sections at a first speed;consecutively transferring the foremost axially aligned sections of allof said rows seriatim into separate paths at such intervals that allaxially aligned sections are transferred by moving with reference toeach other before a section in any one of said rows covers in said firstpath a distance equal to the distance between two consecutive sectionswhereby all of the sections are transversely staggered with reference toeach other; moving the thus staggered sections at right angles to theiraxes at a 'second speed which exceeds said first speed, each of saidseparate paths having a portion which overlies a portion of said firstpath in the region where the sections are transferred from said firstpath, and shifting the sections axially with reference to each other soas to form a single row of sections in which all sections are arrangedin a single file.

3. A process for staggering an array of rod-like sections wherein thesections are disposed in a plurality of rows of equidistant sections andwherein each section of one row is axially aligned with one section ofeach other row, comprising the steps of moving said array of sections ina first path at right angles to the axes of the sections and at a firstspeed; consecutively transferring the foremost axially aligned sectionsof said rows seriatim into separate paths at such intervals that allaxially aligned sections are transferred before a section in any one ofsaid rows covers in said first path a distance equal to the distancebetween two consecutive sections whereby the sections are transverselystaggered with reference to each other, each of said separate pathshaving a portion overlapping a portion of said first path in the regionwhere the sections are transferred from the first path; moving the thusstaggered sections in the respective separate paths at right angles totheir axes through different distances and at identical speeds exceedingsaid first speed; transferring the sections seriatim into a further pathand moving the sections in said further path at right angles to theiraxes and at identical speeds so that the sections remain staggered; andshifting the sections axially with respect to each other While thesections move in said further path to form a single row in which allsections are arranged in a single file.

4. A process for staggering an array of rod-like sections wherein thesections are disposed in a plurality of rows of equidistant sections andwherein each section of one row is axially aligned with one section ofeach other row, comprising the steps of moving a row of elongatedparallel rods in a direction at right angles to their axes andsimultaneously severing each rod into a plurality of sections wherebythe sections form said array of sections; moving said array of sectionsin a first path at right angles to their axes and at a first speed;consecutively transferring the foremost axially aligned sectionsseriatim into separate paths at such intervals that all axially alignedsections are transferred before a section of any given row covers insaid first path a distance equal to the distance between two consecutivesections whereby the thus transferred sections are transverselystaggered with reference to each other, each of said separate pathshaving a portion overlapping a portion of said first path in the regionWhere the sections are transferred from the first path; moving the thusstaggered sections in the respective separate paths at right angles totheir axes through different distances and at identical speeds exceedingsaid first speed; transferring the sections seriatim into a further pathand moving the sections in said further path at right angles to theiraxes and at identical speed so that the sections remain staggered; andshifting the sections axially with reference to each other while thesections move in said further path to form a single row of sections inwhich all sections are arranged in a single file.

5. A process as set forth in claim 4, wherein said rods consist offilter mouth piece material.

6. A process as set forth in claim 5, wherein said rods are of sextupleunit length and wherein said sections are of double unit length.

7. A proces for staggering an array of rod-like sections wherein thesections are disposed in a plurality of rows of equidistant sections andwherein each section of one row is axially aligned with one section ofeach other row, comprising the steps of moving a row of equidistantparalle1 rods consisting of filter mouth-piece material at right anglesto their axes and simultaneously severing each rod int-o a plurality ofsections to double unit length whereby said sections form said arrayconsisting of a plurality of rows of equidistant sections; moving saidarray of sections in a first path and at a first constant speed at rightangles to their axes; consecutively transferring the foremost axiallyaligned sections seriatim into separate paths at such intervals that allaxially aligned sections are transferred before a rod covers a distanceequal to the distance between two consecutive rods whereby the thustransferred sections are transversely staggered with reference to eachother, each of said second paths having a portion overlapping a portionof said first path in the region where the sections are transferred fromthe first path; moving the thus staggered sections in said separatepaths at right angles to their axes at a second constant speed higherthan said first constant speed and through slightly different distancesso that the sections remain staggered; transferring the sectionsseriatim into a further path and moving the sections in said furtherpath at said second constant speed .and at right angles to their axes sothat the sections remain staggered; and shifting the sections axiallywith reference to each other to form a single row in which all sectionsare arranged in a single file.

8. A process as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second constant speedis a multiple of said first constant speed and wherein axially alignedsections are transferred from said first path at equal intervals.

9. A process for staggering an array of rod-like sec tions wherein thesections are disposed in a plurality of rows of equidistant sections andwherein each section of one row is axially aligned with one section ofeach other row, comprising the steps of moving a row of elongatedparallel rods in a first circular path in a direction at right angles totheir axes and simultaneously severing each rod into a plurality ofsections whereby the sections form said array of sections; moving saidarray of sections in said first circular path at right angles to theiraxes at a first speed; consecutively transferring the foremost axiallyaligned sections seriatim into separate circular paths at such intervalsthat all axially aligned sections are transferred before a section ofany given row covers in said first path a distance equal to the distancebetween two consecutive sections whereby the thus trans-ferred sectionsare transversely staggered with reference to each other, each of saidseparate paths having a portion overlapping a portion of said first pathin the region where the sections are transferred from the first path;moving the thus staggered sections in the respective separate circularpaths at right angles to their axes through different distances and atidentical speeds exceeding s-aid first speed, transferring the sectionsseriatim into a further path and moving the sections in said furthercircular path at right angles to their axes and at identical speeds sothat the sections remain staggered; and shifting the sections axiallywith reference to each other while the sections move in said furthercircular path to form a single row of sections in which all sections arearranged in a single file.

10. A process as set forth in claim 9, wherein said separate circularpaths are tangential to said further circular path.

11. A process for staggering an array of rod-like sections wherein thesections are disposed in a plurality of rows of equidistant sections andwherein each section of one row is axially aligned with one section ofeach other row, comprising the steps of moving said array of sections ina first path at right angles the axes of the sections and at a firstspeed; consecutively transfer-ring the fore most axially alignedsections of said rows seriatim into separate paths at such intervalsthat all axially aligned sections are transferred before a section inany one of said rows covers in said first path a distance equal to thedistance between two consecutive sections whereby the sections aretransversely staggered with reference to each Other, each of saidseparate paths having a portion of said first path in the region Wherethe sections are transferred from the first path; moving the t-hustransferred and staggered sections in the respective separate pathsideways and at identical speeds exceeding said first speed; andshifting the/thus staggered sections axially with reference to eachother tQfOI'Il'l a single row wherein the sections are arranged in asingle file. 7

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,258,429 10/1941Stone 19s 43 Moon 198-43 Schur 83-102 X Fisk 19824 Wittenberger 198-24Dearsley 83-402 X Sanders et a1. 83-27 Schoenberger 83-107 Grover et a1.83-107 Rudszinat et a1. "198-30 10 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM W. DY ER, JR., Examiner.

4. A PROCESS FOR STAGGERING AN ARRAY OF ROD-LIKE SECTIONS WHEREIN THESECTIONS ARE DISPOSED IN A PLURALITY OF ROWS OF EQUIDISTANT SECTIONS ANDWHEREIN EACH SECTION OF ONE ROW IS AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH ONE SECTION OFEACH OTHER ROW, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF MOVING A ROW OF ELONGATEDPARALLEL RODS IN A DIRECTION AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THEIR AXES ANDSIMULTANEOUSLY SEVERING EACH ROD INTO A PLURALITY OF SECTIONS WHEREBYTHE SECTIONS FORM SAID ARRAY OF SECTIONS; MOVING SAID ARRAY OF SECTIONSIN A FIRST PATH AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THEIR AXES AND AT A FIRST SPEED;CONSECUTIVELY TRANSFERRING THE FOREMOST AXIALLY ALIGNED SECTIONSSERIATIM INTO SEPARATE PATHS AT SUCH INTERVALS THAT ALL AXIALLY ALIGNEDSECTIONS ARE TRANSFERRED BEFORE A SECTION OF ANY GIVEN ROW COVERS INSAID FIRST PATH A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO CONSECUTIVESECTIONS WHEREBY THE THUS TRANSFERRED SECTIONS ARE TRANSVERSELYSTAGGERED WITH REFERENCE TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID SEPARATE PATHSHAVING A PORTION OVERLAPPING A PORTION OF SAID FIRST PATH IN THE REGIONWHERE THE SECTIONS ARE TRANSFERRED FROM THE FIRST PATH; MOVING THE THUSSTAGGERED SECTIONS IN THE RESPECTIVE SEPARATE PATHS AT RIGHT ANGLES TOTHEIR AXES THROUGH DIFFERENT DISTANCES AND AT IDENTICAL SPEEDS EXCEEDINGSAID FIRST SPEED; TRANSFERRING THE SECTIONS SERIATIM INTO A FURTHER PATHAND MOVING THE SECTIONS IN SAID FURTHER PATH AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THEIRAXES AND AT IDENTICAL SPEEDS SO THAT THE SECTIONS REMAIN STAGGERED; ANDSHIFTING THE SECTIONS AXIALLY WITH REFERENCE TO EACH OTHER WHILE THESECTIONS MOVE IN SAID FURTHER PATH TO FORM A SINGLE ROW OF SECTIONS INWHICH ALL SECTIONS ARE ARRANGED IN A SINGLE FILE.